WACO — The 45-minute drive from Gatesville to Waco Vanguard was all too familiar for Sydney Mundkowsky. As she walked into Vanguard’s athletic complex Saturday and warmed up for the match that was soon to take place, the 6-foot-2 Gatesville product felt as though her high school volleyball journey was coming full circle.

BELTON — Three months after they had their senior seasons taken from them by an invisible yet potent force out of their control, Rogers’ Trevor Glaser and Troy’s Kyle Torres were serendipitously reunited on the diamond Friday afternoon.

After Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday announced Phase 3 of his plan to reopen the state during the coronavirus pandemic, Fellowship of Christian Athletes Heart of Texas officials said they were informed that they can indeed host a pair of Victory Bowl games today and Friday.

In order to comply as rigidly as possible to local and state coronavirus precautions and protocols while ensuring the utmost safety for participants, Fellowship of Christian Athletes Heart of Texas officials Tuesday tweaked the delivery of this year’s remaining Victory Bowl events — softball, baseball and volleyball — to practice-only formats.

Fellowship of Christian Athletes Heart of Texas officials said Friday they’ve secured host venues for the upcoming Super Centex Victory Bowl baseball, softball and volleyball contests, the final pieces necessary to hold the annual exhibitions that this year will represent locally a return of organized competition after nearly three months because of the coronavirus.

Guidelines are stringent, restrictions are in place, and proper hygiene and social distancing are still recommended as the COVID-19 pandemic lingers. But the sounds of practicing student-athletes could again echo from local fields and gyms soon.

Hope turned to heartache Friday and an unwanted reality came to fruition when the University Interscholastic League announced the cancellation of all remaining athletic and academic competitions and state championships because of the ongoing fight against the spread of the coronavirus.